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UWS Ignite Pitch Perfect Competition
Competition Overview
Do you have a business idea or early-stage business you wish to get off the ground?
The UWS Ignite Pitch Perfect Programme has been designed to support UWS students, staff and graduates in taking their first steps towards developing an innovative idea for an enterprise. Aimed at the earliest stages of company creation and business development, providing financial support to help refine and test business ideas. We are seeking individuals who are interested in something different, who are keen to unleash those creative, innovative, and unique ideas whilst developing a reusable skillset that will be beneficial for the future.
This competition is an exciting opportunity for you to access seed funding and expert mentorship, whilst transforming your ideas into viable businesses. No prior business experience is necessary—only a strong idea and the willingness to learn.​
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3-Minute Pitching Competition
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Mentorship
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Prizes (Business funding)
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PLEASE NOTE: All winners must attend an event on 17th March which is hosted by the Scottish Government.
Competition Requirements
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Enter our competition for a chance to win seed funding for your business. To enter you must:
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Application Deadline: Friday 27th February.
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Participants Contacted and Invitation Sent to Finalists: Wednesday 4th March
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Live Pitches: Wednesday 11th March
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Judging/Winners Announced: Thursday 12th March
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Who Can Apply?
Our programme is open to any student currently enrolled at the University of the West of Scotland, at any level and at any Scottish campus, to all UWS staff members, and recent Alumni who have graduated within the past two years. This is funded by the Scottish Government, and therefore we are unable to open this programme up to UWS London students/staff at this time.
You can apply as an individual applicant or as part of a team. If you are participating as a team entry, then you can only have a maximum of 2 team members, and there must be a lead applicant. All team members must appear in the video pitch.
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Participants must meet the following criteria:
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Connection to UWS: Applicants must be a current student or alumni of the University of the West of Scotland. If you are entering as a team, then one member of the team is required to be a student/recent graduate from UWS.
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Scotland Based: Participants should be located in Scotland.
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Must have an early-stage business idea/business they wish to develop and start-up.​​​
How to Apply
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This form is required to be completed and submitted by the deadline for submission is Friday 27th February.
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Access the application form here.​
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If you required support for your application form, then you can contact our team at enterprise@uws.ac.uk.
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You can find our 3-minute Pitch Guidance Form pitch here, which will highlight what is required, what our judging panel are looking for and the best tips/things to avoid.
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Key Competition Dates
Applications
Applications Open
Monday 9th February 2026.
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Applications Close
Friday 27th February 2026.
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Live Pitches
All participants will be contacted and notified if they are a finalist in the competition. All finalists are required to do a live pitch in front of our Ignite judging panel. This will be on campus at our UWS Paisley Campus and timings will be provided closer to the date.
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Live Pitches are expected to take place on Wednesday 11th March.
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Any issues please contact our team.
Winners Announced
All winners of our competition will be announced on Thursday 12th March.
Competition Application & Selection Process
Applicants must clearly outline:
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What problem are you solving?
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Who is it for?
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Why is your solution better or different?
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Can this realistically become a business?
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Why are you the team to do it?
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If you were to win funding, what would the funding will be used for?
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Guidance on pitches can be found here.
Competition Prizes:
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£5,000 Cash pot (Seed Funding) *If you are a UWS staff member, please note that staff prizes are paid in salary and may be tax deductible.
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Certificate
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Free Mentorship
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Seed Funding
Funding can be used for:
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Seed funding for early-stage ideas or business concepts.
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Prototyping an idea, service, or product (including marketing, branding, or research).
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Supporting start-up costs (e.g. registering a business, building a website, or running test events).
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Attending industry training, networking events, or trade fairs that enhance your idea.
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Developing a prototype to test market potential.
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Covering your time and expertise in developing the project.
Funding cannot be used for:
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Coursework-related activities.
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Retrospective costs for completed projects.
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Large-scale equipment purchases (e.g. laptops, vehicles etc.).
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Rent, living expenses, or personal subsistence.
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Debt repayment or business consultancy fees.
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Membership fees for professional bodies or tuition fees.
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Our team may ask you for an update on what the funding has been spent on a few months prior to the competition, which will require you to complete a short form to submit.
Student Visa Holders – Important Considerations
If you hold a Student Visa, you are eligible to apply; however, there are restrictions on self-employment and trading activities under UK Home Office rules.
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You can use the fund for:
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Pre-trading activities, such as research, training, business planning, mentorship, or attending events.
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Developing a business idea that could later qualify for a Start-up Visa or other entrepreneurship-related visas.
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However, the fund cannot be used for:
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Engaging in paid entertainment work.
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Undertaking activities classified as self-employment beyond the "pre-trading" phase.
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If unsure, please contact UWS International Student Support for guidance before applying.
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Fair Pay & Project Planning​